Like every small town, 1863 Gettysburg had its cranks, criminals, love stories, jealousies, and gossip. For most of the residents, the Battle of Gettysburg and its aftermath were the most significant events of their lives. Learn more about these fascinating personalities! Below are three of the most famous. Check out our growing list of citizens and their networks!
American Crucible
They came of age in an era of hometown fruit orchards, horse-drawn carriages, marbles, and hot summer days on Rock Creek. But they also worked dangerous jobs, saw relatives die young of disease, and saw their town divided by sectional politics. And right through their town ran the Underground Railroad. Here, read the episodes of the young adult series American Crucible.
Meet Each Citizen, One by One
Know a person or two in Gettysburg? Jump to the Gettysburg Civilian Index and get to know the people who lived there at the time of the battle.
Family and Friend Networks
Gettysburg had about two thousand residents at the time of the battle, and their lives were intertwined in complex ways. Get to know Gettysburg’s people through its family and friend networks.
“I [would] like to tell you every intimate detail. Many great events I can easily recall and the days of the battle here in July 1, 2, and 3, 1863 have been impressed on my heart and brain as though seared with a great hot iron.“
Catherine Bushman, 1904, age 79
